Show creator Jack Bennett didn't have a name for his main character until after the writing process was finished. He was asked what name to put on the audition breakdown just as the Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds song "Deanna" started playing randomly over the speakers on his computer. The crew referred to the series as "Oh Deanna" throughout filming.
Deanna's last name came from an English teacher Jack Bennett had in high school whose own name was an inverse of Sinclair Lewis. Deanna writes her personal blogs as "Clair Sin" and laments having to write her articles as "Sin Dee" at the behest of her numerous editors.
The title is intended to be ironic. Deanna wishes she had a double life but her attempts to have a stable personal life outside of the horror genre is encroached upon by horrific characters.
Lauren Valentine was the last actress to read for Deanna. She auditioned after Jack Bennett saw her in an improv show he attended in order to see another actress. Valentine left the audition not sure how it had gone and was halfway down the hallway when Bennett threw open the door of the audition space and shouted after her "You got the part!"